Four Women’s Championship clubs to trial letting fans drink alcohol in stands | OneFootball

The Women’s Championship clubs Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton will take part in a trial permitting fans to drink alcohol in the stands while watching games. It will start this month and run until the end of this season but apply to league fixtures only.

Drinking alcohol in view of the pitch is banned in the top five men’s leagues in English football, in accordance with the Sporting Events Act of 1985, but it is understood the women’s game is not tied to that legislation and therefore government approval is not required. If the trial is successful then, after further consultation, the concept could be rolled out more widely across the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.

Clubs had to register interest in taking part in the trial to Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), the entity that has been running the WSL and Women’s Championship since August, and had to meet certain safety criteria.

It is understood the four clubs were selected partly for their geographical spread but also because two of the venues – Ashton Gate and Kingston Park – are accustomed to allowing alcohol to be consumed during rugby union fixtures, as the shared homes of Bristol Bears and Newcastle Falcons respectively, and two are not, allowing scenarios to be compared.

The trial has been organised to examine potential ways to enhance the match experience in the women’s game. League officials have previously spoken about wanting to “test and learn” before enforcing changes. There is also a belief that the different demographic of fans at women’s games means the consumption of alcohol could be safer than at men’s fixtures. Last September, government data revealed there had been no arrests recorded at women’s football matches in England and Wales in the 2023-24 season.

Bristol City’s and Southampton’s first matches in the trial are on 19 January, with Birmingham’s and Newcastle’s on 26 January. Some derby fixtures will be exempt.

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